Who is Piotr Smetski from Enchantment and what is their importance?

Piotr Smetski is Ivan's father. He is described as a good man who gave up his home and teaching position in order to remove his son from the growing upheavel in the Ukraine. Piotr is a professor of languages. He teaches Ivan to speak Old Church Slavonic. In doing this, Piotr gives Ivan the means by which to speak to Katerina when he awakens her in the meadow outside of Marek's farm.